2016 RSS

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds Issues Statement on Gov. Terry Branstad Being Nominated to Serve as U.S. Ambassador to China

(DES MOINES) – Today, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the following statement in regards to Gov. Terry Branstad being nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China in the Trump-Pence Administration:

President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Gov. Branstad as Ambassador to China speaks volumes about the character, talent and experience of Gov. Terry Branstad. As America’s longest-serving governor, I can think of no one more qualified and ready to represent Iowa and the United States of America on the world stage than Gov. Branstad. His hands-on experience in advancing trade opportunities for Iowa farmers and Iowa companies coupled with his strong and lasting relationship with President Xi Jinping, as well as other leaders in China will serve him well in strengthening U.S.-China relations.

Gov. Branstad has been my mentor and friend, devoting his life to advocating for Iowa. His record-setting public service as governor speaks for itself and has, without a doubt, made this state better. Gov. Branstad has never backed down from a challenge. I’m excited and proud to see him accept the responsibility as top envoy between the U.S. and China, and know that Iowans will be proud of his service on the world stage. I have been honored to be a full partner with Gov. Branstad in this Administration and know that the experience I’ve gained over the last six years has prepared me well for this next chapter of service to all Iowans.

My family and I wish to extend Gov. Branstad, Chris and their family our most sincere congratulations as they accept this role together, knowing full well they will never be far from Iowa.

Gov. Terry Branstad Issues Statement on Being Nominated to Serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China

(DES MOINES) – Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad issued the following statement in regards to being nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China in the Trump-Pence Administration:

I love Iowa and I love my country. For 22 years, I have been honored and privileged to serve the people of Iowa as their governor. My family and I will always be grateful to Iowans for trusting me to lead and putting their faith in me to serve.

America is at a crossroads, and the American people are looking for bold change to renew our position as the leader in the world. To once again hold America up as that ‘shining city upon a hill’ as President Reagan so proudly proclaimed. By electing President-elect Trump on November 8, this message was sent loud and clear by the voters.

During our 30-year friendship, President Xi Jinping and I have developed a respect and admiration for each other, our people and our cultures. The United States - Chinese bilateral relationship is at a critical point. Ensuring the countries with the two largest economies and two largest militaries in the world maintain a collaborative and cooperative relationship is needed more now than ever. The President-elect understands my unique relationship to China and has asked me to serve in a way I had not previously considered.

After long discussions with my family, I am honored and humbled to be nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China. I also accept President-elect Trump’s charge to prioritize collaborative policies that will Make America Great Again. This is an extraordinary opportunity. I believe that the respect and admiration built over a decades-old friendship between President Xi and I give me an opportunity to help the President-elect and serve Iowa, the United States and the world for the better.

This new mission to continue serving my state, and my country, in a new role is essential to building a bright future for our children and grandchildren. With my wife Chris by my side, I look forward to the work ahead but we will never have Iowa far from our hearts.

(New York, NY) – President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa, the longest-serving governor in American history, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China.

Gov. Branstad's relationship with President Xi Jinping dates back to the mid-1980s, when President Xi was a young county official seeking a closer relationship with Iowa's robust agriculture sector.

“Governor Branstad’s decades of experience in public service and long-time relationship with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders make him the ideal choice to serve as America’s Ambassador to China,” said President-elect Trump. “He successfully developed close trade ties with China while serving as chief executive of the Hawkeye State. That experience will serve him well as he represents America’s interests and further develops a mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese leadership.”

"After long discussions with my family, I am honored and humbled to accept President-elect Trump’s nomination to represent our great country as Ambassador to China," said Gov. Branstad. "I have known President Xi Jinping for many years and consider him an old friend. I look forward to building on our long friendship to cultivate and strengthen the relationship between our two countries and to benefit our economy. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve as Governor of Iowa and I look forward to serving in this extraordinary new role. Chris and I will always keep Iowa close to our hearts."

Gov. Branstad is the longest-serving governor in American history, having served from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2011 until the present. Since leading his first delegation to Hebei Province in 1984, the Governor has led six trade missions to China meeting with numerous provincial governors, ministerial leaders and local officials.

Gov. Branstad is considered an “old friend”, a culturally significant title, by President Xi and has a long-standing relationship with the Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai.

Gov. Branstad collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture for China, including meetings with Minister Han Changfu and has worked closely with Madam Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to further relationships between states in America and Chinese provinces.

Gov. Branstad was born, raised and educated in Iowa. A native of Leland, Branstad was elected to the Iowa House in 1972, ’74 and ’76, and elected as Iowa’s lieutenant governor in 1978. Following his four terms as governor, Branstad went on to serve as president of Des Moines University from 2003-2009. On November 2, 2010 he was again elected governor where, under his leadership, the state of Iowa's unemployment has fallen to 4.1 percent, well below the national average.

Gov. Branstad supports President-elect Trump’s mission to negotiate trade deals that put America’s interests first. He will work with President-elect Trump’s economic team to negotiate fair trade deals that create American jobs, increase American wages, and reduce America's trade deficit. He will also work with President-elect Trump’s national security team to implement an America First foreign policy that will advance America’s core national interests and promote regional stability.

Iowa GOP Statement on Governor Terry Branstad’s Appointment as U.S. Ambassador to China

DES MOINES-- Preceding a visit to Des Moines on Thursday, President-Elect Donald Trump’s transition team announced that Iowa Governor Terry Branstad had been chosen to serve as the U.S. ambassador to China.

“I commend President-Elect Donald Trump for his decision to appoint Governor Terry Branstad as America’s ambassador to China,” stated Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. “Over the decades as Governor, Terry Branstad has forged a unique and lasting relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He is immensely qualified to strengthen the United States’ relationship with China and to promote economic prosperity and cultural understanding between the two nations. On a personal note, it is an honor to call Governor Terry Branstad a dear friend, and I wish him the very best in this future endeavor.”

Additionally, Co-Chairman Cody Hoefert stated, “While Iowans will certainly miss Governor Branstad and his extraordinary service and leadership in this state, all Americans are incredibly fortunate to have the Governor serve in this critical leadership position.”

"Congratulations to Governor Branstad. This is an incredibly important post to take. Governor Branstad's long-term relationship with China's President will hopefully result not only in a strong, positive relationship with China on behalf of the United States of America, but also a continued partnership with Iowa farmers, whose ag commodities are a central component of US trade--a boon for Iowa's rural economy."

DES MOINES—IDP Chair Dr. Andy McGuire released the following statement on tonight’s 2016 General Elections:

“First, I want to thank all of the Iowa Democrats who came out to vote in today’s election. I would like to congratulate all of tonight’s winners and all of our hardworking candidates, staff and volunteers. I am proud of all Democrats for running terrific, issue-based campaigns. I would also like to thank all of our county chairs, party leaders, partner organizations, and especially the volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to help our candidates up and down the ballot.

“We applaud Patty Judge for taking on Senator Grassley and her courageous effort to hold him accountable for his Supreme Court obstruction. We hope that Senator Grassley will use his seventh term to work across the aisle and abandon his blockade of confirming justices.

“We would like to congratulate Congressman Dave Loebsack on his victory tonight. We know that he will continue to serve Iowa’s 2nd district with honor and integrity as a voice for the middle class and working families. Iowans in the 2nd district are better off because of his fight to protect our veterans and senior citizens.

“Monica Vernon, Jim Mowrer and Kim Weaver all ran excellent campaigns that exposed the ineffectiveness and extreme partisanship of their respective opponents. The Iowa Democratic Party is fortunate to have them as leaders in our party. We are confident that they will continue to promote a democratic vision and agenda across our state.

“We are obviously disappointed by tonight’s results in Iowa. We would like to thank all of our Democratic Legislators for their years of dedicated service to their districts and constituents. Our Democratic lawmakers will not abandon their priorities in the 2017 legislative session as they renew their fight for adequate education funding, raising the state’s minimum wage and improving our state’s water quality.”

Donald Trump Jr. Coming Back to Iowa on Sunday, November 6 and Monday, November 7, 2016

DES MOINES, IA – Donald Trump Jr. will return to Iowa this Sunday and Monday to hold two rallies in Altoona and Ottumwa. Trump's visit comes just days after a Simpson College/RABA poll showed the Trump-Pence ticket leading Hillary Clinton by 3 points here in Iowa.

Des Moines -- During the final days of the campaign, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will campaign on behalf of Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine across Iowa.

Vilsack will lay out the clear choice facing Iowans: Hillary Clinton who has the temperament and experience to tackle the issues facing our country and to work with all Americans to solve them, or Donald Trump, who has proven himself time and again to be temperamentally unfit and unqualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief. Iowans deserve a president who holds the optimistic view that Americans are stronger, rather than one who could destroy the values we hold dear and tear America apart.

With more people voting in this election than any in history, Vilsack will talk about the importance of electing Democrats up and down the ticket and urge Iowans to visit iwillvote.com/learn to ensure that they have all the information they need to vote on Election Day.